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Under God's Wings

"Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;" (from Psalm 91 ) Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated his firm belief: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Sometimes fear comes from apparent threats, but also from real, extreme threats to mind, body, or spirit. Walter Bruggermann reminds us, “You gotta have a place where you process your fears, because if you don’t process your fears, they will devour you [and] they will immobilize you.” Psalm 91 helps form a place for processing our fears. Dwelling in the Shelter in the Most High, (Hebrew  El Shaddai ) and leaning on the fortress of God in trust is the beginning place. God’s defenses are described through vivid metaphors: protection from hidden traps, deadly pestilence, and terrors of the night, like a fierce mother bird sheltering her young. God promises that guardian...
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Eternity Life

Lake Willoughby, VT "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (From John 17:1-11 ) Lake Willoughby is the most scenic lake in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont The Lake is surrounded by mountains on either side and fed by cold springs, giving it God's natural beauty. God's gifts in this lake include camping, fishing, sailing, swimming, and ice skating. For me, though, it is more than a scenic lake. As I look across the clear water, through the mountains, and up to the sky above, I am reminded of eternal life. Jesus, however, is speaking of a different kind of eternal life. He is not referring only to something in the future. He is describing eternal life as something we share even now. Eternal life is central John’s Gospel, but modern ideas confuse a richer meaning. Jesus shows God’s love for the world desiring to draw all into God’s own eternity life, which is participation in the very ...
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Jesus and The Mooch

  "The Mooch" “I will not leave you orphaned;  I am coming to you" (from John 14:15-21 ) Have you ever experienced feelings of being lost or abandoned? This is “The Mooch” He earned that name after he appeared at the sliding door of our deck with a forlorn look. Like many feral cats, we have no clue where he came from and how he happened to choose our deck. So, being kind to cats, Elaine fed him. From then on, we could count on his appearance. Sometimes he would stay for an hour, sometimes he would stretch out and enjoy the sun most of the day. His one rule was: don’t try to catch me. One day he didn’t show up. Then he didn’t show up for three days in a row and we concluded something happened to him or he simply decided to move on in search of another deck with a sliding door. Once again, “The “Mooch” was on his own. Jesus, though, made a promise to his disciples: he would not abandon them. It’s hard to get through life without experiencing feeling lost...
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Knowing the Way

 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going,  so how can we know the way?” (from John 14:1-14   )    As I write, it’s the celebration of Route 66’s 100th anniversary. Founded on November 11, 1926, US 66 stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. During the 1930s Dust Bowl, it served as a key migration route and boosted local businesses. Signs and advertising from 1927 made travel easy. Thomas's question to Jesus, “How can we know the way?” reflected his desire to better grasp Jesus’ teachings and understand how to follow them. Just as travelers once relied on Route 66 to guide them west, we rely on spiritual guidance to navigate our own journeys—sometimes finding the path less clear as traditions change or challenges arise. Upon reflection of my personal faith journey with Jesus, I have considered this question throughout my spiritual development and transitions between churches. “How can we know the way?” Initially, the solutions appe...
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Jesus: Shepherd and Trailblazer

  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,." (from Psalm 23 ) Psalm 23 highlights God's comfort and care also inviting us to connect with the deeper radical claims confronting our experiences of suffering, fear, hostility, and alienation. The rural comparation connects strongly with Christians, especially in seeing Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Pointing to God’s ongoing blessing and presence. Awareness of Psalm 23 can hide new meaning in the Psalm. Careful study reveals it as a journey from rest through valleys, always guided by God. For example, there is a real “Valley of the shadow of death” known as the Wadi Qelt. steep-sided desert valley (wadi) in the Judean Desert, extending from near Jerusalem to Jericho. Known as a "valley of the shadow of death" due to its steep, treacherous terrain, considered the setting for the Good Samaritan parable. Travelers on the dangerous 7-mile journey from Jerusalem to Jericho could expect to be beaten and ro...
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Hope in Unexpected Twists and Turns

Hawk's Nest Overview "  Now on that same day  two of disciples were going to a  village called Emmaus,  about seven miles [  from Jerusalem,  and talking with each other  about all these things that had h9appened."  (from   Luke 24:13-35 ) The Hawk’s Nest is a scenic, cliff-hanging stretch of NY State Route 97 offering dramatic views of the Delaware River.   Originally a one-lane dirt road built in 1859, it is known for bald eagle sighting, scenic overlook, and its twists and turns.   "Just as the Hawk’s Nest Road winds unpredictably, so too do our days.   For example, one day started off unpredictably, with the electrician arriving at 7:30, followed by the plumber at 8:30, and then a sincere thank you note delivered in person at 9.   "Our current polarized society creates complex, unexpected twists and turns that are difficult to navigate." The Emmaus Road story is one of hope in times of twists and tu...
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Our Potion and Cup

'Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." (from Psalm 16 ) As I sat at the breakfast table this morning enjoying my cup of coffee, I watched two blue birds, several sparrows, a Downey woodpecker, and the usual band of deer make their appearances." Just as a cup holds what sustains us, I choose the Lord to fill my life with meaning and strength each day." When I am looking for a closer, more intimate connection, I read from the Psalms because      “the Lord is my chosen portion and cup” Some Psalms I read over and over, while others I return to less frequently, but each time I reflect on them, my relationship with the Lord deepens. For example, Psalm 16 has comforted me during difficult times, reminding me that I am never alone This has been true for centuries, as the psalms describe the Lords actions in people’s lives, especially in...
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